SAN DIEGO, Calif.: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced the availability of the new Thermo Scientific Aspire Protein A, Protein G and IMAC Cobalt Chromatography Tips. Aspire™ proteomic tips are 1 ml pipette tips embedded with various Thermo Scientific Pierce resins, including immobilized Protein A Plus, Protein G Plus, and HisPur Cobalt resins. These pipette tips utilize color-coded purification workflows and allow accelerated sample preparation without compromising yield or purity. Up to eight samples can be processed in parallel within 20 minutes without the need for centrifugation. The Aspire chromatography tips allow for high-quality, cost-effective sample preparations in less time.

For more information about the Thermo Scientific Aspire Tips, please visit www.thermo.com/aspire.

Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.

AKI is a common and often devastating complication for up to 25% of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU. AKI can lead to increasing hospital length of stay and associated costs, and also increases risk of death. AKI is often detected too late into its clinical progression when a substantial portion of kidney function may already have been lost and the window for initiating treatment to prevent further harm has closed.

A small study conducted in early 2009 at the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France and published in the Journal of Critical Care found that a new bedside blood test for a blood biomarker called neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) offered the promise of rapidly assessing if a critically ill patient is suffering from AKI. Now results from the prestigious Department of Nephrology at San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza Italy have confirmed these findings in a larger study published this week in Intensive Care Medicine.
In this study of 301 critically ill patients, plasma NGAL measured with the Triage NGAL Test was a statistically significant diagnostic marker for AKI development within the next 48 hours (area-under-ROC 0.78), and for renal replacement therapy use (area-under-ROC 0.82). Moreover, peak plasma NGAL concentrations increased with worsening AKI severity (R=0.554, p<0.001).

“We are living in an exciting era where it seems possible to diagnose AKI much earlier than before thanks to NGAL, a new promising biomarker of kidney damage. This may contribute to have a diagnosis in place, especially in the area of critically ill patients where an early detection of kidney insult may allow to stop harmful interventions or to install preventive /protective therapies that before were precluded or not indicated.” said Prof. Claudio Ronco of the San Bartolo Hospital in Vicenza where the study was conducted.
Inverness supplied the Triage NGAL Tests used in the study at no charge, but did not otherwise fund or sponsor the study.

*The Triage NGAL Test is not currently available for purchase or use in the United States.

As quality and reliability are critical to successful IVF, these Nunc centrifuge and cryopreservation tubes are MEA (mouse embryo assay) and HSSA (human sperm motility assay) tested and certified. Compliance with these standards maintains cell viability before and after long-term storage. Made of polystyrene, the IVF centrifuge tubes are HSSA tested so as not to impact on sperm motility. Furthermore, the cryopreservation tubes are produced in accordance with a proven design for the safe cryogenic storage of sperm, eggs, embryos or tissue samples.

These Nunc centrifuge and cryopreservation tubes are CE marked as medical devices for IVF. These products are not available for sale in the USA. For further information on the complete range of Nunc IVF consumables, please visit www.thermo.com/ivf.

Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.

Oxford, UK: Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), the pioneer of microarray-based technologies, has introduced three new CytoSure™ ISCA aCGH arrays to meet all resolution, multiplexing and budget requirements. Designed in collaboration with the International Standard Cytogenomic Array (ISCA) Consortium, the 8 x 60k, 4 x 180k and 4 x 44k CytoSure ISCA formats, provide powerful arrays focusing on disease and syndrome-associated genome regions, in addition to offering whole genome coverage. Using a proprietary 60-mer probe design and multiple rounds of optimisation, the CytoSure ISCA aCGH arrays ensure exceptional reliability and confident detection of genetic aberrations with high signal-to-noise ratios. These features have ensured that the CytoSure ISCA arrays are already used at a number of key facilities, including the Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Salisbury UK where they were evaluated as part of an ongoing multi-platform aCGH comparison being carried out by the National Genetics Reference Laboratory (Wessex).

Each CytoSure array is accompanied with the user-centric CytoSure Interpret analysis software. This powerful and easy-to-use tool ensures effortless translation of data into meaningful results. Intuitive features include the “Accelerate” workflow, for customisable automation of routine data analysis, and full integration with existing data and publicly available cytogenetics databases including the Database of Genomic Variants (DGV, Canada) and DECIPHER (Sanger Institute, UK). “OGT has a strong and ongoing commitment to providing cytogeneticists with exceptional tools for accurate and reliable aberration detection” stated James Clough, OGT’s Vice President Clinical and Genomic Solutions, “The development of our CytoSure ISCA arrays, in combination with our advanced CytoSure Interpret analysis software, is a clear example of this. We are delighted by the level of interest our CytoSure ISCA arrays are generating within the ISCA consortium around the world”.

In addition to CytoSure ISCA arrays and Interpret software, the CytoSure aCGH product line includes a range of high quality arrays covering single disorders through to entire syndrome spreads, as well as SciGene automation instrumentation (now distributed in Europe by OGT). As a result, OGT’s comprehensive products and services are the ideal solution for running oligo aCGH in the laboratory.
For further information on OGT products and services please visit www.ogt.co.uk.

Hamburg, Germany: Olympus has introduced a new improved version of its highly successful dotSlide virtual slide system. The new VS110 combines microscopy seamlessly with imaging to create a virtual slide that is an exact copy of the real specimen. Generating a high resolution image of the whole specimen, this can be viewed and analysed from the overview image at low magnification up to maximum magnification by simply zooming in. All samples can be evaluated around the world instantly and simultaneously as they are stored electronically on a central server. As a result, the VS110 is ideal for use in a number of areas including pathology, research and education.

Virtual microscopy enabled by VS110 allows the information from a single glass slide to be shared in real time with multiple personnel across the globe. All users are able to review the same sample, yet control the position and magnification individually, as if it were a real slide. This ability to acquire complete slides at high magnification and resolution virtually, delivers significant benefits to pathologists and researchers, as well as students in professional education when diagnosing, analysing and archiving samples for discussion, both remotely or via online conferences.

The flexibility of the VS110 technology within all clinical applications and teaching environments enables users to exceed the limits of conventional digital microscopy and telepathology in both the size and resolution of image files that can be discussed, as well as in time and location of discussion with colleagues. For example, it is possible to remotely access virtual slides with the functionality of a microscope, but without the instrument itself; ideal for a tutor working with a number of students. In addition, users can see and analyse macro overviews of slides that are simply not possible with traditional microscopes.

Within life science research the VS110 offers excellent throughput for extensive image analysis and superb documentation of tissue sections, cell cultures and even tissue microarrays.

All VS110 system components are designed to interact seamlessly, producing a fully automated, high-speed scanning system with excellent flexibility and simple operation. These ensure that users gain the best results for all types of specimens with minimum effort. The Net Image Server SQL for the Olympus VS110 system is a real client-server-based data management system and storage facility specifically developed for microscopy. This, together with the VS110 platform, helps the user by keeping everything clearly structured for easy management and efficient sharing of images and data.

www.microscopy.olympus.eu

Royston, UK: TTP LabTech has today launched its new contract screening service based around the company’s HCS technology, the Acumen® microplate cytometer. The service will provide clients with high-content data using cell-based assays for the investigation of various biological phenomena – including cell cycle, RNAi profiling, angiogenesis and signal pathway profiling.

The new service complements TTP LabTech’s existing product business by providing companies with an easy route into high-content screening, regardless of their internal resources. Initially run from TTP LabTech’s headquarters in the UK, the service is currently available in two forms, Standard and Full. The Standard Service offering, includes the rapid scanning and analysis of pre-prepared experimental plates whilst the more extensive Full Service incorporates the entire process from cell culture, through compound/reagent treatment, to screening, analysis and data reporting, and can include assay development where required.

‘As the inventors of the Acumen, we have extensive experience in the use of this instrument for high-content screening and so we are well placed to apply its capabilities on behalf of our clients.’ commented Dr Philip Blenkinsop, MD of TTP LabTech. ‘In the past, prospective clients seeking direct access to high-content data have often asked us whether we can combine our in-house biology expertise with the latest lab tools to provide a complete package. We now feel that the time is right to introduce such a service to augment our existing product business.’

TTP LabTech will be exhibiting and presenting the new screening service at the upcoming Molecular Medicine Tri Conference (San Francisco, Feb 3rd – 5th) and at Screening Europe (Barcelona, 11th and 12th Feb).

For more information about the new contract screening service visit: www.ttplabtech.com/screening

Edinburgh, UK: Lab901 announced at the Peptalk 2010 conference that its Protein ScreenTape® platform can deliver, for the first time, true, practical at-line monitoring of monoclonal antibody production. Before now, at-line monitoring of antibody production by SDS PAGE has been impractical with other existing platforms as the cost per test-point is too high or the analysis takes too long to be of value.

With its rapid staining protocol and automated sample handling, electrophoresis and data presentation, the Protein ScreenTape platform can deliver information on yield, purity and molecular weight within a few minutes. Samples can be analysed directly from the bioreactor with no need to purify or filter the media. Analysis of media containing high levels of serum is also possible using ScreenTape. Lab901 application scientist Adam Inche said, “This information will be invaluable not only for process optimisation, but also for batch monitoring as it is now possible to assess antibody production by SDS-PAGE on a day-by-day, or even hour-by-hour basis. This data will enable our clients to make more informed decisions on when to harvest their bioreaction batch, thus saving time and money.”

The full presentation can be downloaded from the lab901 website at the following link www.lab901.net/images/downloadabledocs2/at_line_monitoring_of_mab_production.pdf. For more information visit the website at www.lab901.com, contact info@lab901.com or call +44 131 448 2904

CORALVILLE, IA: Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), the world leader in oligonucleotide synthesis, has added additional flexibility to its PrimeTime™ qPCR product offering. In order to provide even greater user input, customers can now customize the Standard and XL qPCR Assays by specifying the dye and quencher pair used on the probe and the ratio of primer to probe. These new PrimeTime scale features work in combination with the existing versatility offered across the PrimeTime range, including the ability to set the design parameters, select exon spanning sites to reduce genomic contamination, and view the primer and probe sequences prior to purchase. In addition, the new features give researchers more flexibility for multiplex design and experimental setup. As a result, the final product can meet all personal and experimental preferences.

PrimeTime qPCR assays are 5’ nuclease assays consisting of a forward and reverse primer along with a dual-labelled probe. The assays are shipped lyophilised with all components in a single tube and with enough reagents for 500 (Standard) or 2500 reactions (XL). The use of a fluorescent probe, as opposed to an intercalating dye, eliminates inaccuracies associated with primer dimers or non-specific binding. Fluorescence is detected only when the probe is cleaved by the polymerase action of the elongation phase. This improved specificity ensures that users can gain precise and reproducible results with every reaction.

In addition to the PrimeTime Standard and XL qPCR assays, IDT also offers the PrimeTime Mini qPCR assay (100 reactions) for small scale, screening purposes. All three assay scales are available to order through IDT’s RealTime PCR design tool – www.idtdna.com/primetime.

For more information on the complete range of IDT’s products please visit www.idtdna.com.

Royston, UK: Leading chemistry automation product innovator, Syrris established its new Brazilian subsidiary at the beginning of January 2010. With offices on four continents and an expanding distributor network, the new office in São Paulo will enable Syrris to provide efficient and direct support to its rapidly expanding Latin American customer base.

Syrris designs and manufactures world-leading flow chemistry, microreactor and automation products for research and development chemists. The company’s flow chemistry products include the FRX, a modular flow chemistry system, and Africa, a fully-automated microreactor flow system. Syrris’s batch reactor products include Atlas, a manual or automated system for control of one or parallel reactions of up to 5 litres in vials, flasks or jacketed reactors. Within this innovative Atlas range is the Atlas Calorimeter, a high performance reaction calorimeter for heat flow and power compensation calorimetry.

“With a significant increase in customer sales in 2009, this is an extremely exciting way for us to begin the New Year”, commented Mike Hawes, Chief Executive Officer. He continued, “Establishing a subsidiary office in Brazil not only reflects the increasing interest in our product range worldwide, but more specifically the increased requirement for our complete product range within the Brazilian and Latin American research and development chemistry industry.”

Syrris’s new Regional Manager for Brazil, Leandro Nogueira, is a polymer chemistry engineer with ten years’ experience of supplying high technology systems to the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and ceramics industries, as well as universities and research centres.

With a global network of 30 distributors and subsidiary offices in the US, Japan, India, Brazil and the UK headquarters, Syrris’s complete product offering is available worldwide with extensive customer service and support. For more information about the Atlas, Africa or FRX product ranges, or for more detail about the development of Syrris Brazil and Latin America, please visit www.syrris.com.

Romsey, UK: Stratophase, a specialist in real-time chemical and biochemical measurement and detection, has started the new year in style by securing £2.5m follow-on funding from existing investor East Hill Management. Commenting on the funding, Dr Richard Williams, CEO of Stratophase said, “These are exciting times for Stratophase. We are initiating a SpectroSens Early Access Programme in key markets and are actively seeking strategic partner organisations with the intention of leveraging this widely applicable technology into multiple end markets”. The additional investment will enable the company to roll out their SpectroSens real-time monitoring technology in target markets. The roll out will be supported by recruitment of key staff and a move to larger premises.

Bringing together proven science from the telecoms, optics and biotech industries, the SpectroSens optical microchip platform technology is being developed for a number of applications in process measurement and bio-detection. Target applications to date include real-time in-line monitoring of pharmaceutical manufacturing (both small molecule and bio-pharmaceuticals), bio-fuel production, bio-detection for security and military defence and point-of-care diagnostics. The SpectroSens system is currently being trialled by several major organisations including a top tier multinational pharmaceutical company and the UK military.

For further information about Stratophase and the SpectroSens system, please visit www.stratophase.com.